India's ban on 267 Chinese apps in 2020, implemented due to security and data privacy concerns amid rising border tensions, has not been entirely effective in the long run. By 2025, many of these apps have re-entered the Indian market, with at least 36 of the previously banned ones now available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. Some apps have retained their original identity, while others have made subtle changes in branding, logos, or ownership details to bypass restrictions.
These returning apps span various categories, including gaming, shopping, entertainment, file sharing, and content creation. According to India Today, file-sharing service Xender, streaming platforms MangoTV and Youku, shopping app Taobao, and dating app Tantan are among the prominent ones making a comeback. MangoTV remains unchanged, while others have undergone minor modifications. Xender, for example, now appears on Apple’s App Store as "Xender: File Share, Share Music" but is still missing from Google Play. Taobao has been rebranded as "Mobile Taobao," and Tantan now operates as "TanTan - Asian Dating App."
Some apps have found alternate ways to re-enter the Indian market. Shein, a popular fashion retailer, struck a licensing deal with Reliance, allowing its return while ensuring that all user data remains stored in India, cutting off access from its Chinese parent company. Similarly, PUBG Mobile was banned in 2020 but resurfaced in 2021 as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) under South Korea's Krafton. Even this version faced another ban in 2022 before being reinstated in 2023 after meeting compliance and security standards.
The resurgence of these apps highlights the challenge of enforcing an absolute ban. While the Indian government can restrict access to specific applications, developers often find ways around it. Many of the returning apps now list ownership from countries like India, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Seychelles, Japan, and Bangladesh, making it increasingly difficult to track their true origins. Clone versions and rebranded variants of banned apps continue to emerge, complicating enforcement efforts and raising questions about the effectiveness of long-term restrictions in an interconnected digital ecosystem.
